35 y/o Yacht's 200 MILE Maiden Voyage | GREAT LOOP BOAT PURCHASED! IT BEGINS!!

Couples' first time operating a large boat, which is a 1989 Carver 3867 yacht. We bought our GREAT LOOP BOAT!!!
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[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

*Part II: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYjPnIKIf9CMbtU* *Catch up on past travels:* happilywhereverafter.com/ *OR* facbook.com/happilywhereverafter

[@allenharris2549]

15:20 LOL “crazy, but that’s how it goes.” You’ve got the start to a pretty decent rock ‘n’ roll there brother. 😂😂

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

@@allenharris2549 🤘🤘🤘

[@sneal4600]

Soon to be retired FD in Arizona and the Loop is on our radar in '27. We will be following you for pre-trip info. Enjoy this journey!

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Awesome, thanks for watching ✌️

[@davemeyen6775]

Same here. Aerospace Engineer, retiring late summer. Wife retires in 2027 and I have started researching boats. I am trying to find one around the $175k or under arena.

[@sneal4600]

@ We just found a 1987 DeFever 44OC in that price range. Currently in heated storage in Michigan. First shakedown cruise will be in May. Join some forums of boat brands you like and see what the owners post for sale.

[@montanadan2524]

Did that same trip both ways on our sailboat last season. Spent the night in the same place you bent the anchor, living the dream.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Safe travels ✌️

[@curtbrown9702]

Check alignment. If thats the worst, THATS GREAT. have fun, we getting out there soon. Do it before you pull out of water.

[@markburton8680]

Really enjoyed your video and am looking forward to seeing more. I lived in South Florida 48 years and did some boating myself. Living my golden years in the foothills of the smoky mountains.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Enjoy! It's definitely a beautiful area, spent quite a bit of time camping around there. ✌️

[@jaideedave]

I've owned a variety of both sail and power boats in years past. You are going to learn a lot about boats along the way. Good thing you are mechanically inclined. Paying others to do most of the repairs gets old real fast. Best of luck.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

've been in the RV realm since 2017, and boats are super similar. I even tested out for my ABYC Marine Electrical Tech certification. So I'm probably a little more prepared for repairs than most. Still plenty to learn for sure. Thanks for watching 🍻 -Tom

[@FloridaYachtInsuranceGuy]

Retired cop aswell...cant wait to start our loop in a couple of years. Just found this channel looking forward to seeing your adventures. Cheers!

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Awesome, and thanks for joining along 🍻 -Tom

[@MVCompassRose]

@@FloridaYachtInsuranceGuy retired after 25 years myself, been out 10 years now. Starting the loop as soon as my wife retires. We are going to video it for KZbin.

[@Tony7022]

Thomas, Great to see you back. I look forward to seeing your travels

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks! It's good to be back ✌️

[@rodwilliams2782]

Hope you have much joy on your new adventure.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks for the well wishes! 🙏

[@alexmikhael5061]

ANOTHER ONE TO ADD TO THE LIST!!! AWESOME !!! GOOD LUCK ON YOIUR ADVANTURE!!! :) MAY IT BE EVERYTHING YOU ARE LOOKIN FOR AND NO THING YOU CAN NOT HANDLE!!!! :) BE SAFE MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!! :)

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks for the well wishes! 👍

[@TrickyRick-xc1by]

Get a Tap and die set to back those broken bolts out. Still not easy but probably the best way to do this. Once remover you can re thread or clear the threads out with this set. Makes it much easier to put back in. Good luck !!! Also, this happened because of a existing problem. Pull shaft and see if it bent . Before you pull it make sure it is aligned perfectly to your transmission. Top to bottom and side to side . I would also make sure trans is secured tightly as not to wobble. That should put you in the right position my friend !!!

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks!

[@jackwill3578]

SO take one or 2 bolts out of the other drive just to get it to the dry dock, you need to check how tight the other shaft bolts are anyway'

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Unfortunately, the 5 sheared bolts are stuck in the v-drive. So, it's not quite as simple as borrowing one from the other side. The other side was good to go 🍻 Thanks for trying to help though! -Tom

[@YomamaPVT]

Had the same thing happen to me this summer, I have a 1985 Trojan 11m Sedan.

[@kevbjork1]

We have a 1978 Prairie 36 we bought to eventually do the great loop in. Yeah, old boats mean lotsa work but it sure is satisfying when you get her out and about. Have fun!

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

I'd take an older car or boat over a new one everyday of the week. But I'm a little crazy 🤪 🤣 Safe travels! -Tom

[@timgreen4137]

@@kevbjork1 I'm restoring a 1967 Grand Banks 36, that was neglected for over 20 years. I completely understand the "lotsa work" and the satisfaction. I'm doing 95% of the work myself. Been working on it for over 2 1/2 years now. It's liveable, and about 75% of where I want it to be. Over 1500 hours, just in my own labor.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Sounds like a great project! Enjoy!

[@samanthas1dad]

Just watched your video... immediately subscribed.... cant wait to see more of your adventure... The great Loop is definitely on my bucket list, as soon as i win the lotto!! lol

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Awesome! We're definitely excited! -Tom

[@vincentp.chianese2873]

Nice looking boat. Best of luck on the loop. I know you didn't ask but here is some advice from a person that has had a bit of experience boating. 1. What is the hardest maneuver for a boat captain??? A 180* turn back to the dock when you stick your nose out and it is blowing 25 - 30 mph. No timetable is worth becoming friends with the USCG, just saying. What do you think you are going to do if the winds went up to 45 - 50 mph and you are ten miles from nowhere and that prop shaft came loose. Not a good plan. 2. That Danforth is not the best anchor to have. Yes, they work but a good plow CQR/Delta type as a primary will do better. And always keep at least a spare on board. The Danforth is great for that purpose. Also set up an anchor sea water wash down, easy to do. 3. Get use to the draw bridges being on their own time schedule. I believe they are municipality controlled. So work traffic is way more important than boat traffic. 4. I’m surprised that the boat survey didn’t find the loose prop shaft bolts. They didn’t just come loose it takes a bit of time and there must have been a fair amount of vibration. LocTite is your friend. You will not be able to use nuts on those bolts as there is not enough room on the flange between the V drive case and the coupling. LocTite is your friend. Where are you in Ft Pierce?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks for taking the time to leave a thought-out comment. If winds were 50mph, we wouldn't have left. That's quite the difference from gusting to 25mph. I've got tons of time on the water, just not in a big boat. I have no doubt we'll be just fine with a little common sense and planning. The anchor was on the list before it broke, but moving it once, it wasn't a huge deal. We had no issues with the bridges, and now that we are closer to 10ft clearance, we'll have any less to worry about. The survey was through, but to err is human, they say. Safe travels ✌️

[@jimpaddock7745]

All tanks need to vent, including the holding, fuel and water tanks. You probably have had insects plug the vent holes. Take a wire and work it into the vent holes from the outside and you maybe able to clear them. The vent hose on the tanks should be replace as they are more than likely full of mold. It's cheap and easy to do. Happy boating.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Yeah, it was odd that the water tank got pressurized from just gravity filling it. I noticed the tanks aren't factory and plan to sort the vents out for sure. Thanks for watching and trying to help! ✌️

[@jimpaddock7745]

Even if you are just gravity filling it will need to vent. You are replacing the air with water and the air needs to go somewhere else and can’t go out of the fill since you are stopping it with water you are putting in.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

@jimpaddock7745 I understand, but usually, the gravity fed tube's are large, ours is 1.5" for example, and they'll let some air out when filling from a small source, like we were with a water hose. This one definitely didn't, which led me to finding the 0.5" vent tube was clogged. Easy repair for sure, never considered bugs, but I plan to vacuum it out from the outside if possible while on the hard. Thanks again 👍

[@richardmedina8128]

If possible, would you be able to do a tour video of your boat? The reason I ask is because I’m in right now on checking out either to get a sailboat or a yacht want to do some sailing myself thank you

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Yeah, we'll probably do one once we get it off the hard 🍻

[@timfriel8273]

Just found your channel and we are in the very early stages of planning our loop. When do you plan to start? Looking forward to the next one!

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Welcome aboard! Hopefully end of February 🍻

[@timfriel8273]

@ Thanks for the reply and I will be following. Cheers to you, as well!! Happy Boating!!

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

Invest in basic scuba gear to go inspection under the boat. Beware of crab trap lines. Be ready for those.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Yeah, we watched for and dodged quite a few crab pots along the way. 🍻 Thanks for watching ✌️

[@travis1687]

Have a safe trip.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Thanks ✌️

[@akllera]

I think the shaft is out.of alignment with the V- drive.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Not anymore 🤪

[@JJJ-y1x]

Tell Elyse the viewers just need a little pretty face and smile to soften up the channel. Thomas is smart and can nerd out at times, so we need someone to soften up the channel. We love Thomas..but more Elyse…good luck on your newest adventure Thomas. Long time viewer from when you first hit the road way back when

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

I'm trying, it'll just take time 🍻

[@pamelablanchard2620]

Hey! Where are you now? We are in Marathon, FL.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Boats on the hard in Ft Pierce still, hoping to splash and head north early March 🍻 Hope yall are well! ✌️

[@DetroitWrecker666]

Hit me up when you get into Lake Erie on the Michigan side.

[@jackwill3578]

cheers

[@JPLOgunquit]

That is a nice looking Carver. Are you gonna do a tour and show us?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

We can definitely do a tour video. Once we get it sorted for the Great Loop 😁

[@timgreen4137]

A complete set of spare coupler bolts just made it onto my "spare parts kit".

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

With a bolt extraction kit! 😬

[@timgreen4137]

​@@HappilyWhereverAfter I already have that onboard. Snapped two bolts while replacing my mixer elbows that experienced a "blowout".

[@YomamaPVT]

Did you make any other videos on the work you did on this boat?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

No, this is the first video of the boat. We'll be sharing more as we do more and tackle the Great Loop -Tom

[@blueboatone5653]

Good luck with your adventure. I think if you ask around, you'll fiind the style of anchor you have is not suitable for cruising. Good luck with your bolt problem!

[@wanderingfore2290]

Memo he doesn't own the ocean. So funny

[@ericolmstead5365]

Doggone Kitty sounds like he's a doggone Karen. It's public access waterway whether Karen likes it or not.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Definitely an interesting person for sure. Can't say I'd want him as a neighbor that's for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@stfitts]

I'd be worried about the cause of the failure. Potential alignment issues?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Early on day 2 while idling slowly we hit some shoaling. That engine shut off and withing a few seconds we drifted away from the bottom. It seemed like a soft bump off the bottom.. well as soft as a 22k lb boat can be. The engine fired back up and we did another 150ish miles before it let go completely. My best guess is we loosened or broke a bolt or two then, and it held on for a few more days of travel. We just never realized it, until they were all gone.

[@stfitts]

@@HappilyWhereverAfter makes sense! Looking for to more content!

[@jimprouty6793]

what is the make and model of your boat?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

1989 Carver Santego 38

[@jimprouty6793]

Nice boat, are you planning to post on a regular basis?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Yes, but we own a small business, so it'll probably be every few weeks at first, until we actually set out on the loop in about 6 weeks or so.

[@jackwill3578]

DID YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANY CERTIFICATES TO BE ON OPEN WATER ? SAFETY OR CAPTAIN LICENSE ?

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

If you're asking if we were legal, the answer is yes. Laws vary state to state, I suggest you check your local laws for a better understanding. FL requires a boaters safety card if you were born after a certain date. I technically don't need it, but I took the course anyway prior to us purchasing or operating the boat.

[@jackwill3578]

@@HappilyWhereverAfter LOOKING FOR A BOAT AND WAS WONDER FOR ME NOT YOU. BUT I AM 72 ON A BUDGET, MIGHT JUST STAY NEAR TO HOME LAKES AROUND DETROIT !

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

@@jackwill3578 Best of luck with your search!

[@eradicator187]

"I'm not Lost; I'm Boating." Good to see you back on the Tube. It's been a minute.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

🤣 Love it! Thanks! ✌️

[@Djdj-kd8ue]

Kinda odd your mate didn’t want to say Hello especially when this was my first time viewing your channel

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Well, hello from the first mate! This was my first KZbin video so I am not yet accustomed to being on camera ☺️ [Elyse]

[@robertbennett6697]

2 outta 3 ain't bad, 1 outta 6 ain't good😮

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

Right!?! 🤦‍♂️

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

Need to hose off that anchor and chain each day.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

A spray down is on the list of additions ✌️

[@j.walker3498]

Your V drive (transfer case) and shaft look out of alignment.

[@HappilyWhereverAfter]

It's definitely on list to be checked when I reinstall it ✌️